Lazio walking tour

The last section of the Cammino of St Francis, this wonderful walk starts in Rieti and finishes 8 days and 100 kilometres later at the steps of St Peter’s Basilica in the heart of Rome, taking you through protected forestlands, nature reserves, past archaeological digs and medieval castles and towns

The route starts by crossing the Rieti plains then climbing into the hills of the Central Appenines, through an area known as Sabina. The area is dotted with small, proud towns, each with its own history traced back to the Romans and beyond. The hills gradually give way to the undulating farmlands of the Tiber River plain, taking you through two nature reserves before reaching the outer suburbs of Rome.

This independent walk is the third and final section of the Cammino of St Francis - click here for details. In the spirit of the long-distance pilgrimage, we have sought to keep the costs down.

The final walk takes a cycle path/greenway from the Monte Sacro district in northern Rome along the Aniene River and the glorious Tiber River, into the Vatican City via the Via della Conciliazione and the columns of Michelangelo’s Piazza San Pietro to the stairs of St Peter’s Basilica, one of the most spectacular buildings in the world, a moving experience (even for the not so religious!).

The walks

Until reaching the outer suburbs of Rome on the penultimate day, the walk takes you through forested hills and rolling farmlands following predominantly unsealed roads and asphalted country lanes and is well-marked. There are a number of days that cover 20 kms over more, however, the route covers mostly hills and undulating plains without steep climbs – with notice, these walks can be shortened. This is a Grade 4 walk (click here for details).

The accommodation

In the spirit of the long-distance pilgrimage, we have sought to keep the costs down. The tour starts on Day 1 in a 3-star hotel near the main square in Rieti and finishes in a lovely boutique hotel a short walk from the Vatican. Along the way, you stay in the best accommodation available: very attracitve agriturismo’s on Days 2 and 4; a private apartment on Day 3; a fantastic 3-star in the historic centre of a buzzy agricultural centre on Day 5 and a smart hotel in the Monte Sacro district of Rome on Day 6.

The food

The food in regional Lazio is generally robust country cooking, dependent on seasonal offerings and influenced by the cuisine of the Capital, eg first courses may include bucatini (a thick spaghetti with a rich sauce such as cacio e pepe (pecorino cheese with pepper) or the famous carbonara (eggs, smoked pork cheek, pecorino and parmesan cheese). Apart from the standard offers of veal and beef, seconds might include more interesting fare like baccala (salted cod); oxtail stew; lamb and all types of offal (tongue, liver and tripe). Artichokes are the quintessential Roman vegetable either stuffed with garlic and mint and stewed or served in the ‘Jewish style’, flattened and deep fried in olive oil. A generous breakfast each day is included in the tour cost. The dinner option includes a three course meal.